Climate Change TV Series ‘Years of Living Dangerously’ Bags Emmy

Showtime’s Years of Living Dangerously, a documentary TV series focused on climate change and its effects on people all over the world, won the Emmy for “Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series” on August 16. Also nominated for “Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming,” the series features an all-star team of producers and correspondents, including executive producers James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar), Arnold Schwarzenegger, and former 60 Minutes producers Joel Bach and David Gelber (who now have 13 Emmys between them). Included in the cast are famous actors, actresses, scientists, writers and political figures, such as Matt Damon, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Don Cheadle, New York Times reporter Thomas Friedman, Harrison Ford, and Jessica Alba. “Years received great fanfare on Showtime – hopefully this will put another spotlight on the show. . . Our goal has always been to tell the story of climate change to as many people as possible, and this Emmy win goes a long way towards helping accomplish that goal,” said Joel Bach.

The show is character-driven, as correspondents visit individuals, communities and policy influencers from California to Bangladesh, showcasing real-life storylines centered on climate change. In one episode, actress Olivia Munn observes the political process behind Washington state Governor Jay Inslee’s climate change bill. In another, actor Don Cheadle visits a town hall meeting discussing climate change in Plainview, TX, where one of the town’s largest employers, a meat packing plant, was forced to close following three years of drought. Another episode shows Harrison Ford having a heated exchange with an Indonesian forestry official who oversaw the destruction of millions of acres of forest. “Years of Living Dangerously’s Emmy win further proves that the far-reaching effects of global warming and the producers’ and stars’ willingness to bring this major worldwide issue to the forefront of the public’s consciousness provide for ground-breaking television,” commented John Pollack, the president of Electus International, the company which owns international rights to Years of Living Dangerously.

Years of Living Dangerously was not the only show covering climate change to bring home an Emmy. Fox and National Geographic’s Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey, a science TV series narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, won four Emmys and was nominated for 12. Cosmos devoted an entire episode to climate change on June 1. Tyson has said he hopes Cosmos presents science “in ways that connect. . . to convey why science matters to the person.” Its awards included recognition for writing, music, and sound editing, and nominations for visual effects and art direction.

Years of Living Dangerously came out on DVD on September 7.

 

Author: Carlos Villacis